Question

Fill in the blank with suitable word:
Electromagnetic waves are…………….waves.

Answer 1

Hint : Here, we have to fill this blank with a suitable word which can be a major definition of the electromagnetic waves. We have to study the electromagnetic waves with definition as well as its features. Electromagnetic waves consist of electric field waves and magnetic field waves and these waves are formed because of the vibrations between electric field waves and magnetic field waves.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
Let us discuss more deeply about EM waves.
EM waves are the resultant of electric field waves and magnetic field waves. These waves propagate perpendicularly with each other as electric field waves and magnetic field waves are right angled to each other. These waves are also perpendicular to the direction of the EM waves. These waves always travel with constant speed of $3 \times {10^8}m{s^{ - 1}}$ which is the speed of light in the vacuum. EM waves are not affected by the influence of the electric field waves and magnetic field waves. They are capable of producing interference or diffraction. These waves can travel through anything. They do not need any kind of medium to propagate. Same as light, light is the radiation also an example of EM waves, it does not need any medium to propagate. We can say that these waves are non-mechanical waves because they do not need any specific medium to travel in space. On the other hand, the waves which need a specific medium to travel in space are known as the mechanical waves e.g. sound waves, water waves. These waves cannot propagate without medium.
Thus from the above information we can say that the suitable word to fill that blank space is non-mechanical.
i.e. Electromagnetic waves are non- mechanical waves.

Note :
EM waves are non-mechanical waves and do not need any specific medium to propagate. These are also known as transverse waves. Their speeds are equal to the speed of light. These waves are radiating waves. E.g. X-rays, Radio waves, infrared waves, etc. are EM waves.